Container for lamp bulbs or the like



June 14, 1960 P. w. MIESSLER, SR 2,940,653

CONTAINER FOR LAMP BULBS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1957 IIIIIIWX v INVENTOR. PAUL W- N/ESSLf/RS/"R W426 A r TOE/VEYS June 14, 1960 P. w. MIESSLER, SR 2,940,653

CONTAINER FOR LAMP BULBS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllmm United States Patent 2,940,653 CONTAINER FOR LAM]? BULBS OR THE LIKE Paul W. Miessler, Sn, Berea, Ohio, assignor to The Hankins Container Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 16, 1957, Ser. No. 684,084

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-39) This invention relates to lamp bulb packages and more particularly to an improved collapsible container for holding a pair of incandescent lamp bulbs or the like during storage, shipment, etc.

In my co-pending United States patent application Serial No. 562,772, filed February 1, 1956, now Patent No. 2,825,496, granted March 4, 1958, I have disclosed and claimed an improved collapsible lamp bulb package. Insofar as this present application contains subject matter which may be deemed common to that of my said copending application, this application may be considered to be a continuation-in-part of said co-pending application. Furthermore, the lamp bulb container or package of the present application constitutes an improvement of the container disclosed in said co-pending application.

In the merchandising of electric lamp bulbs it has been found to be desirable to provide packages which will hold two bulbs of the same size. It is also desirable that such packages be collapsible so that they may be shippedfrom the package manufacturer to the lamp bulb manufacturer in flat or knocked-down form. It is further important that the containers be adapted readily to be erected for rapid loading with lamp bulbs by the bulb manufacturer.

Accordingly, it is among the objects of my present invention to provide an improved collapsible container for lamp bulbs or the like which will securely hold a pair of bulbs in overlapped relation while preventing harmful contact therebetween. Other objects of my invention include: the provision of a collapsible lamp bulb container which may be made from a rectangular blank of single faced corrugated board or the like, the blank requiring a minimum of material and being adapted to be cut from sheet material With no waste whatever; the provision of a collapsible lamp bulb package which is readily adaptable to manufacture on automatic machinery and which will effectively hold a pair of bulbs in the package during shipment and normal handling; and the provision of a collapsible lamp bulb package which, when set up into erected form for receiving a pair of bulbs, will stay in said erected form without tendency to collapse.

The above and other objects of my invention will appear from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the blank from which my improved container is formed, looking at the inner or corrugated side thereof and showing the various score lines, slit or cut lines, etc.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but illustr-atin g the blank after the separator panel has been folded over into superimposed relation with the adjacent sections of the blank.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the completed collapsed container after the final fold has been made and the parts are secured together where required.

Figure 4 is an end view of one of my improved containers in partially set-up or erected condition.

Figure 5 is a perspective end view of my improved con- Figure 1. This is a plan view of the blank at is comes from the slitting and scoring machine and after adhesive has been applied at the proper locations but prior to the folding operations. At the righthand end (Figure 1) of the blank is the top wall 1, it being understood that the inner face of the blank is corrugated while the outer face is the smooth cover sheet of the single faced corrugated paper material. Top wall 1 is separated from the adjacent side wall 3 by a crease type score line 2, and another crease type score line 4 separates the side wall 3 from the bottom wall 5. The fourth side of the container, which is in general an open-ended tubular sheath when completed and erected, is the side wall 7 which adjoins the bottom wall 5 at the crease score line 6.

A separator panel, generally indicated at 9, is hingedly and integrally connected to one edge of the side wall 7 by the crease score line 8. This separator panel 9 is divided into an attaching portion 19 immediately adjacent the score line 8, a divider wall portion 11 adjacent the attaching portion 10, and another attaching portion '12 adjacent the opposite side of divider wall portion 11 and extending to the end 13 of the blank.

It will be noted that the divider wall portion 11 is of the same length as the top, bottomand side wall portions 1, 3, 5 and 7 (length being used to describe the dimension between the opposite open ends of the sheath-like container seen in Figure 5). Furthermore,

divider wall portion 11 is hingedly connected to the attaching portion 10 for a portion of its length by a crease score line 14 and is connected to the attaching portion 12 by a similar and equal length score line 15. The thus attached or connected part of the divider wall is indicated at 11 It will be noted from inspection of Figures 1 and 2 that the score lines 14 and 15 extend inwardly from the edge of the divider wall portion 11 a distance somewhat less than one-half the length of the divider wall portion. The remaining part of the divider Wall portion, indicated at 11 in the drawings, is severed from the adjacent attaching portions by slits or cut lines 16 and 17 which are straight line extensions of score lines 14 and 15 respectively. Glue or other suitable adhesive 18 is applied along the inner surface of the end 13 of the blank, and another application of glue or other adhesive 19 is made at the opposite end 20 0f the blank.

After the blank has been completed and is in the form illustrated in Figure 1, the separator panel 9 is folded on the score line 8 until it overlies the side wall 7 and a part of the bottom wall 5 as seen in Figure 2. The attaching portion 12 of the separator panel 9 is secured to the inner face of the bottom wall 5 between the score lines 4 and 6 which separate the bottom wall 5 from the side walls 3 and 7 respectively. Although glue 18 has been illustrated as the means for securing the attaching portion 12 to the inner face of the bottom wall 5, it will be understood that staples or other means may be employed to fasten the attaching portion 12 of the blank to theibottom wall portion 5.

The container in collapsed form is completed by folding the portion of the blank which comprises the side side wall 3 and top wall 1 over-lie the remaining p'a'rts'of rneans wiilbeno tedthat in the' completed collapsed r the glue line 19 engages and adheres tn the between the separator panel 9 and the side wall 7.

he eyl s d'q ta f Fi ma be e ec by exerting pressure on the opposite ends thereof, i,e,, at thecorners that are defined by the score lines 4 and 8. Ei fl e t' llusl ats he n in t p t y erected condition,it,being noted that a this time the entire] divider wallportipn ll (composed of parts 11 and 11 is disposedbetween and parallel to the side walls 3. and 7. After the container has been opened until a rectangular open;endedv sheath is formed, the severed part 11 of the; divider; wall portion 11 isswung into oblique angular relation (see j Figure i) to the side walls 3,and 7. When condition, the container will not collapse because ;o f- .th;e engagement of the top and bottom edges of, the severed portion 11? with the adjacent inner faces of the am s of said sidewalls and another attaching portion spaced trams-aid one attaching portion and secured'to said bot- 7 said spaced attaching portions forming a single divider g portion adjacent the hinged connection 8' attaching portion 12 and the top wall 1., As. illustrated, V

the height-of the severed part '11 of. the divider wall portionis'substantially equal to the inside height of the :opened, or erected container and, when set up as described, the container provides a pair of similarly shaped opposed compartments. or sections, each of which is' adapted to'receive'a lamp bulb. This is clearly. seen in 'Figure 6; in which. the connected partll of the divider tween the enlarged portion 24 of bulb B andthe'neck It will also be observed that the connected part 11 of-divider wall portion 11 is disposed closer to side wall 7 than'it is to sidewall 3. This arrangement minimizes f the 'overall'length of the blank and provides a bulb jreceiving chamber, when the severed part 11 of-the divider wall isswung into oblique angular relation away from side wall 7, which generally fits a conventional lamp bulb with sufiicient frictional engagement between V the surfaces of-thebulb'and the inner walls of the con- 'tainer to retain the bulb therein during normal handling.

My improved lamp bulb container, as illustrated and described herein, is formed from a blank which requires a minimum of material (being less than that required. by the container of my above said co-pending application) a and may be formed at high speed by a simple scoring f loaded by another.

Although 1 have described and illustrated one embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that variations and modifications may. be made in the specific form, arrangement and'pro'po'rtions of the parts without departing from the spirit of 'r'ny' invention. Accordingly, I do? not wish to be limited 'to the exact device herein shown and described, butclaim 'as'f my invention all embodiments coming within the scope of-the appended claims. I claim:

1; Acollapsible' container for lamp bulbs comprising top, bottom and side walls and a separator panel hingedlyjconnected throughout its length to one edge of one of saidzside walls, said separator panel including one'attachst ingjportion securedto said .top Wall adjacent said hinged v. 9 I,u1 t1'pnv betweenlsaidseparator panel. and. saidi'one wall portion, said divider wall portion being connected only for a part of its length tothe adjacent attaching portions of said panel and being severed from said adjacent attaching portions for the remainder of itslength, the ater said dividerwall portiouwhi'oh is connected to said attaehing j portions being entirely but unequally spaced from and parallel to "said' side walls when the container is erected and the severed part of said divider wall being adapted. to be mqved into oblique angular spaced relation to, said side walls.

2. A collapsible container for a pair of lamp bulbs comprising an open ended sheath having top, bottom and side walls and a separator panel integrally and hingediy connected; throughout its length to one edge of one of sa1d side walls, said separator panel having one attaching poflionengaging and secured to the inner face of saidtop .part of saiddivider wall portion which isnot severed from said attaching portions being entirely but unequally sp'acedfrom and parallel to said side Walls when the container is erected andthe severed part of said divider wall being, adapted to be moved into oblique angular spaced relation to said side walls.

3.A collapsible container for a pair of lamp bulbs rugated paper having top, bottom and side walls and a separator panel integrally and hingedly connected throughout its length to one edge of one of said side walls, the

corrugatedsurface of said single faced corrugated paper forming the inner surface ofsa'id walls, said separator panel having one attaching portion engaging and secured to the innerface of said top wall adjacent said hinged connection between said separator panel and said one of said side walls and another attaching portion spaced from said one attaching portion and engaging and secured to the inner. face of said bottom wall between and in spaced relation to said side Walls, the portion of said separator panel between said attaching portions forming a single divider wall portion, said dividerwall portion being con nected from one end inwardly for less than one-half its length to the 'adjacentfattaching portions of said panel and being severed from said adjacent attaching portions for the remainder'of its length, the part of said divider wall portion which is connected to said attaching portionsbeing'entirely spaced from and parallel to said side Walls and closer to said one of said side walls than to the other of said side walls when the container is erected, and

thejsevered part of said divider wall being adapted to be moved toward said other of said side walls into oblique angular spaced relation thereto, the height of said severed portion beingsubstantially equal to the inside height of the opened container whereby said severed part of said divider wall portion, when in said angular relation to said other side wall, will maintain the container in erected condition. 1

4. A collapsible container for a pair of lamp bulbs comprising an open ended sheath having top, bottom and side'walls'and a separator panel integrally. and hingedly connected throughout its length .to one edge of one of said side walls, said'parie'l having one attaching portion engaging and securedto'the inner face of said top wall adjacentsaid hinged connection between said panel and i d' ide Walls and another attaching portion engaging and secured to the inner face of said bottom wall between said side walls, said panel also having a divider wall portion between said attaching portions and extending between said top and bottom walls in spaced relation to said side walls, one longitudinal part of said divider wall portion being disposed parallel and closer to one of said side walls than is the remaining longitudinal part of said divider wall portion when said container is erected to receive said lamp bulbs and said remaining longitudinal part of said divider wall portion being angularly inclined toward the other of said side walls whereby a pair of open ended oppositely disposed bulb receiving chambers, having a common continuous dividing wall and being larger at one end than at the other, are provided.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,737,950 Scotland Dec. 3, 1929 2,097,757 Deike Nov. 2, 1937 2,690,254 White Sept. 28, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 494,639 Canada July 21, 1953 737,000 Great Britain Sept. 21, 1955 

